Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology Concentration, BS

The BS Biological Sciences, concentration in Molecular Biology degree, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences , prepares students for careers in the biotechnology industry including research, drug development, marketing, and management, for graduate or professional school (PhD, MD, other health science-related programs), and for patent law. The program includes a strong theoretical background as well as intensive hands-on laboratory experience.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums).

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

Students in this major must complete all lower division courses in the Requirements of the Major with a “C- or better” to graduate.

Prerequisite Requirements

Enrollment in any chemistry course requires that the prerequisite courses be passed with a grade of “C or better” (C- not accepted). Exceptions may be made only with instructor consent or if not explicitly stated in the course description. Refer to the SJSU Course Catalog for specific information regarding course prerequisites.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 18 (10 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 6 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units satisfied by BIOL 100W)

Major Preparation: 17

Major Requirements: 42

Science Electives: 3

University Electives: 3

Chemistry Minor Requirements: 23

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (17 units)

BIOL 100W - Scientific Communication Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID + GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)
BIOL 155 - Hypothesis Testing 3 unit(s)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 2B - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4) (Note: MATH 30X (3 units) or Advanced Placement (AP) Exam with a score of 3 or higher is also acceptable)

3. Major Requirements (42 units)

Core Courses (28 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
BIOL 31 - Principles of Biology II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
BIOL 115 - General Genetics 4 unit(s)
BIOL 116 - Molecular Genetics 4 unit(s)
BIOL 116L - Molecular Genetics Laboratory 3 unit(s)
BIOL 135A - Eukaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology I 3 unit(s)
BIOL 135B - Eukaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology II 3 unit(s)
BIOL 135L - Molecular Cell Biology Lab 3 unit(s)

Major Electives (14 units)

Complete 14 units of major electives:

BIOL 105 - Principles of Developmental Biology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 107 - Immunology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 107L - Immunology Laboratory 2 unit(s)
BIOL 117 - Human Genetics 3 unit(s)
BIOL 119 - Neurogenetics 3 unit(s)
BIOL 123A - Bioinformatics I 3 unit(s)
BIOL 123B - Bioinformatics II 3 unit(s)
BIOL 124 - Systems Physiology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 125 - Systems Physiology Laboratory 2 unit(s)
BIOL 136 - Vertebrate Neurophysiology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 137 - Introduction to Principles of Toxicology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 138 - Stem Cell Biology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 139 - Cancer Biology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
BIOL 182 - Tutor Assistant in Biology 1-2 unit(s)
BIOL 184 - Directed Reading 1-4 unit(s)
BIOL 186 - Senior Thesis 2-4 unit(s)
BIOL 198 - Undergraduate Research 0.5-4 unit(s) (1-4 units required)
CHEM 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
MICR 101 - General Microbiology 5 unit(s)
MICR 166 - Bacterial Genetics 4 unit(s)
MICR 170 - General Virology 3 unit(s) (or other courses with prior advisor approval, at least 9 elective units must be in Biological Sciences)
*Any combination of BIOL 180, 182, 184, 186, or CHEM 180 may be taken for a maximum of 4 units.

4. Science Electives (3 units)

Any course offered by a department in the College of Science selected in consultation with a major advisor.

5. University Electives (3 units)

University electives selected in consultation with a major advisor.

6. Chemistry Minor Requirements (23 units)

CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 112A - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 112B - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 113A - Organic Chemistry Lab 2 unit(s)
CHEM 120S - Chemical Safety Seminar 1 unit(s)
CHEM 135 - General Biochemistry 4 unit(s)

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